POLICE are investigating after arsonists set fire to a sofa against the back wall of a maisonette in Sittingbourne.

The blaze scorched the wall and melted window frames but firefighters managed to stop it spreading inside the home at Birch House in Woodberry Drive.

The maisonette is owned by Swale Housing Association and the tenant there is Aaron Banerjee but he was not in at home when the fire started on Sunday at about 11am.

His brother Dev, speaking at the scene, said: "Aaron was up in London and a friend was looking after his four children Zac, Adam, James and Ryan, at the flat. We left it locked at 10am to go to my house down the road in Orchard Place for Sunday lunch.

"Twenty minutes later I heard sirens go past and could not believe it when I was told it was at my brother's flat. He had put the old sofa in the back garden area which I locked before going out and I am sure the fire was started by kids.

"My brother's two dogs Bruno, a Staff/Doberman cross and Megs, a pedigree Staff, were in the maisonette at the time but fortunately they were not hurt and I would like to publicly praise the fire brigade for all their help."

Sub officer Mark Innes, from Sittingbourne fire station, said: "We were alerted by a neighbour and managed to stop the fire spreading."

Police spokeswoman Sally Farrell said: "We are investigating the cause and can confirm that it is being treated as suspicious."